Junior college transfer became immediate starter. Set school record in 2010 with 152 tackles.

Bobby Wagner, Utah State | 6-0, 241

Started at three linebacker positions. Can play inside in 3-4 and assist on special teams. Potential Day 2 target.

Michael Gehlken

Corey Liuget talked on the phone and hugged his mother.

He walked onto the stage when his name was called, the 18th pick of the 2011 NFL Draft.

Almost a year ago, Illinois defensive line coach Keith Gilmore watched from home as the Chargers drafted one of his former players.

“It was a great moment,” Gilmore said Sunday. “I was really happy for Corey because I felt he worked really hard and deserved that (honor). I was elated to see that happen.”

On Thursday, it could happen once more.

Again, the Chargers are on the clock at pick 18, and again, one of Gilmore’s guys is expected to go in the first round.

This time, it’s Whitney Mercilus, an Illinois defensive end who led the nation with 16 sacks and nine forced fumbles in 2011 as a junior.

San Diego will have its options, of course. Per

NFLDraftScout.com, the top outside linebacker prospects are South Carolina’s Melvin Ingram, expected to be off the board before pick 18, and Boise State’s Shea McClellin.

Mercilus, considered an outside linebacker on the site’s list, is addressed in this space accordingly, but he played exclusively at end in college.

Likewise, there are a number of prospects labeled as “defensive ends” who could be early outside linebacker targets for the Chargers, including Andre Branch (Clemson), Quinton Coples (North Carolina), Chandler Jones (Syrcause), Nick Perry (USC) and Courtney Upshaw (Alabama).

All that depends if San Diego evaluators project them as such.

Semantics aside, at outside linebacker, Ingram is a terrific athlete with rare versatility, having played middle linebacker, defensive tackle and defensive end at different points in his college career. He even returned kickoffs as a freshman and was on the “hands team” as a senior.

As a junior and senior, he was South Carolina’s sack leader, totaling 10 and nine each year, respectively.

McClellin is also extremely versatile. He saw time at outside and inside linebacker, defensive end and nickelback with the Broncos.

Locally, San Diego State linebacker Miles Burris fits the running theme of being scheme-flexible — he can play outside or middle in a 4-3 and projects as more of an inside option in a 3-4 defense, which the Chargers run.